Katharine Metcalfe, for Middlesbrough Council, said the couple could not relax in their own home and had suffered stress and sleepless nights. This had exacerbated Mr Nicholls' health problems, including cancer and brain tumours, while his wife had difficulties going to work because of lack of sleep.

Walker was issued with a noise abatement order last September - but was recorded breaching it six times in under three months. Walker was warned on several occasions and was made aware of the penalties for breaching the notice.

The mum had denied six offences of breaching the notice but changed her plea to guilty just before a trial was due to take place.

Afterwards Mr Nicholls, 56, said: "It has been a nightmare, shouting, swearing, listening to her having sex, all that kind of stuff. It has not been fun."

Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council's Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: "This sort of persistent and unreasonable behaviour is totally unacceptable and this case shows we will not hesitate to take action to protect communities from this sort of nuisance."